Nominees

Please note, voting for the 11th World MMA Awards has now closed. Winners will be announced at the ceremony in Las Vegas.

These are the nominees for this year’s awards:

Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year

Sponsored by: Cellucor
Awarded to the leading male mixed martial artist for his contribution to the sport both inside and outside the ring or Octagon.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Gegard Mousasi

Dustin Poirier

Daniel Cormier

Aung La Nsang

Female Fighter of the Year

Sponsored by: Vitargo
Awarded to the leading female mixed martial artist for her contribution to the sport both inside and outside the ring or Octagon.

Valentina Shevchenko

Tatiana Suarez

Jessica Andrade

Ilima-Lei MacFarlane

Amanda Nunes

Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

Sponsored by: Limitless
Awarded to the leading mixed martial artist following his/her rapid impact on the top level of the sport in the last 12 months.

Thiago Santos

Israel Adesanya

Anthony Smith

A.J. McKee

Aaron Pico

International Fighter of the Year

Sponsored by: Vitargo
Awarded to the leading mixed martial artist from outside of the Americas for his/her contribution to the sport both in and out of the ring or Octagon.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Kamaru Usman

Israel Adesanya

Gegard Mousasi

Aung La Nsang

Fight of the Year

Sponsored by: Cellucor
Awarded to the two fighters involved in the most exciting fight staged on the planet.

Robert Whittaker Vs. Yoel Romero II - UFC 225

Thiago Santos Vs. Jimi Manuwa - UFC 231

Douglas Lima Vs. Rory Macdonald - Bellator 192

Dustin Poirier Vs. Justin Gaethje – UFC on Fox 29

Tony Ferguson Vs. Anthony Pettis - UFC 229

Knockout of the Year

Sponsored by: Limitless
Awarded to the fighter who scores the most sensational knockout victory.

Jair Rodriguez Vs. Chan Sung Jung – UFC Fight Night 139

Cris Cyborg Vs. Amanda Nunes – UFC 232

Mandel Nallo Vs. Carrington Banks – Bellator 207

Vitor Belfort Vs. Lyoto Machida – UFC224

Brian Ortega Vs. Frankie Edgar – UFC222

Submission of the Year

Sponsored by: Cellucor
Awarded to the fighter who scores the most technical and exceptional submission victory.

Tyson Pedro Vs. Saparbek Safarov – UFC221

Donald Cerrone Vs. Mike Perry – UFC Fight Night 139

Zabit Magomedsharipov Vs. Brandon Davis – UFC228

Aljamain Sterling Vs. Cody Stamann – UFC228

Ryan Hall Vs. BJ Penn – UFC232

Comeback of the Year

Sponsored by: Vitargo
Awarded to the fighter who has managed to completely turn circumstances around, whether that be with his entire career or in a single moment of success.

Claudio Silva Vs. Nordine Taleb – UFC Fight Night 130

Tony Ferguson – Injury

Paul Craig Vs. Magomed Ankalaev – UFC Fight Night 127

Derrick Lewis Vs. Alexander Volkov – UFC229

Angela Lee

Upset of the Year

Sponsored by: Limitless
Awarded to the fighter who has overcome overwhelming odds to claim victory against a more favored athlete.

Khalil Rountree Jr. Vs. Gökhan Saki - UFC 226

Alexander Hernandez Vs. Beneil Dariush UFC 222

Ray Cooper Vs. Jake Shields – PFL Playoffs 2018

Amanda Nunes Vs. Cris Cyborg - UFC 232

Henry Cejudo Vs. Demetrious Johnson - UFC 227

Shawn Tompkins Coach of the Year

Sponsored by: Vitargo
Awarded to the most successful coach working in top-level mixed martial arts.

Din Thomas

Firas Zahabi

Mike Brown

Trevor Wittman

Javier Mendez

Trainer of the Year

Sponsored by: Cellucor
Awarded to the most successful specialist trainer (e.g. S&C, nutritonist, mind coach) operating in mixed martial arts.

Michelle Ingels

Sam Calavitta

George Lockhart

Nick Curson

Phil Daru

Gym of the Year

Sponsored by: Limitless
Awarded to the gym that has not only enjoyed great success inside the Octagon, but also helped to develop the sport outside of the elite level.

Factory X

City Kickboxing

MMA Lab

ATT

AKA

Referee of the Year

Sponsored by: Cellucor
Awarded to the most efficient and consistent official in mixed martial arts.

Josh Rosenthal

Dan Miragliotta

Mike Beltran

Herb Dean

Marc Goddard

Ringcard Girl of the Year

Sponsored by: Vitargo
Awarded to the fans’ favorite Octagon girl working in MMA.

Carly Baker

Jhenny Andrade

Summer Daniels

Arianny Celeste

Mercedes Terrell

Leading Man

Sponsored by: Limitless
Awarded to the leading industry executive, whether it be a commissioner, a company president, an influential CEO or even a politician. Presented to the movers and shakers, hirers and firers that make planet MMA turn successfully.

Dana White

Jeff Novitzky

Martin Lewandowski

Chatri Sityodtong

Scott Coker

Best Promotion

Sponsored by: Vitargo
Awarded to the leading promotional business in mixed martial arts.

Rizin

KSW

ONE Championship

Bellator

UFC

Personality of the Year

Sponsored by: Cellucor
Awarded to a leading MMA personality whose engaging persona is a credit to the sport of mixed martial arts.

Jon Anik

Chael Sonnen

John McCarthy

Brendan Schaub

Joe Rogan

Analyst of the Year

Sponsored by: Limitless
Awarded to a leading TV analyst whose ability to breakdown and report on a fight or style is second to none.

Robin Black

Michael Bisping

Paul Felder

Daniel Cormier

Dominick Cruz

Best MMA Programming

Sponsored by: Cellucor
Awarded to the leading TV, radio or podcast color programming centered around mixed martial arts.

The MMA Hour

JRE MMA Show

UFC Embedded

Dana White's Contender Series

Anatomy of a Fighter

MMA Media Source of the Year

Sponsored by: Vitargo
Awarded to the leading source of breaking news, fight reviews and in-depth features. Fighters Only is abstaining from nomination.

Sherdog

MMA Fighting

MMA Junkie

Bloody Elbow

Flo Combat

MMA Journalist of the Year

Sponsored by: Limitless
Awarded to the leading journalist operating in the field of mixed martial arts. Fighters Only staff are ineligible for nomination.

Chuck Mindenhall

John Morgan

Brett Okamoto

Ariel Helwani

Karim Zidan

MMA Clothing & Equipment Brand of the Year

Sponsored by: Vitargo
Awarded to the company who has produced the best clothing and equipment used by today’s MMA athletes and coaches.